Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-07-01

ludI Sluplo Oiu Mres nu0tiVn
The rose TINT deepened to Grim
son on Dodo's pretty cheeks, but
she did not choose to explain what
had deferred her at Mrs. Merron's
cattage on the hill.
81 couldn't get the braid, Greta ;
they don't keep it," she answered.
dit is a bonnet braid, anyhow, and
that wouldn't do for your dress
"a bonnet braid! dear me! How
stupid adressmaker can be-" Crotch
en- exclaimed, impatiently. ."But
if she will only have the dress fin
ished somehow by the time Mr..
Lestrange gets here l won't grum'
bic about minor blunders. And
now, Dodo, do be obliging and help
me with the trimmings of the an
Gent ball gown"
"It is 700 ancient to be rejuven-
lied, Greta it ought to be replaced
by a new gown altogether" said
Dodo, looking with decided resist
ance at the task suggested.
at depends on you, DOdO, wheth-
er we, any Of us, ever have any
thing new again. sighed a faded
little woman from her INVALID chair
before the fire.
Dodo looked distressed, and all
the lovely color suddenly psled
from her pretty cheeks.
"Oh, aunty, how does it depend
on me ~ she faltered, although she
guessed what the allusion meant.
al think you will never quite TOR
get the hours which we have passed
together here,' he said, with SEEM
ingly a regretful glance around the
room, and at motherly Mrs. Mer'
ron, asleep over her knitting be-
fore the fire. "They have been
hours to be remembered by both
of u.s."
He had bent over her until his
dark mustache brushed her fore
head; he had clasped both her
hands. There was the tenderest
significance in his musical tones
the fascination Of what seemed ten
derest love glowed in the brilliant
eyes.
Dodo trembIed. She had made
him her hero undoubtedly; but in
that instant her whole being re-
coiled from him. Why, she could
not have explained /; she only knew
she was aroused somehow to 9 true
knowledge of her own feelings
he had charmed her fancies tor the
moment, perhaps, but no love
sweet aud supreme-would ever
thrill her soul for him.
~ ought to have gone before"
he continued, uneasily, as If he
we're dreading some reprosch from
Dodo herself. "But 1 was hardly
presentable with a pulled and pur'
pie bruise decorating a gOodly half
of my countenance. And my des-
tination is nearer than you guessed,
Dodo; my dear little girl, you and
1 are to meet again, and often"
Dodo noticed the uneasiness OF
his tones, his entire changed ex-
preston, and with a sudden quick
instinct she grasped the truth.
You are-are-Mr. Lestrange :"
she gasped, with a strange look
in her big brown eyes. "You are
my cousin Greta's promised hus-
band.n
He bowed in a manner 80 con-
scious and embarrassed that all
Dodo's honest little soul arose to
hot indignation against him.
He was no longer hero in her
sight. He was an insincere, shall
low trlfer, who had amused him
self with her simple bushes at bis
practical flattery.
Such sublime sudacity, such con-
summate falsity, stunned her. With
a look of whitening scorn she turned
and left him in utter disgust.
~ pity Greta, cross and selfish
as she is,n Dodo thought, as she
went slowly up the steps Of the old
yellow stone mansion.
AS she entered the pleasant fam
lily sitting.room Greta pressed rude
ly and sulIenly past her and trip
ped mp the stairs.
Mrs. Grey was weeping almost
convuIsively in her invalid chair
before the fire.
"What has happened, aunty Y
the girl queered, anxiously and at
fectionstely.
Dodo was sincerely attached tC
her invalid aunt, whose trials had
indeed, been many and grievons.
sit is that mortgage" was the
piteous answer. "There is to be
an immediate foreclosure. We
shall be absolutely homeless; there
won't be 900 left after the sale.
don't care for myself, nor so much
on Greta's accountable can earl
her own living if she chooses but
there are the poor children-Tom'
my and WilIyI What will become
of them :"
Dodo stopped and kissed hel
aunt in gentle sympathy, but she
was silent.
"Dodo, 7 can't ask you to do any
thing that might make you unhsp